The subject of “Aravot” online “Face to Face” talk show is discussed by Lernik Aleksanyan, NA MP, also a member of RPA faction, and Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, Head of Liberal Party.
Aram Abrahamyan – The most interesting events in the internal politics of the completed year was the formation of the parliamentary trio and the three rallies organized by the trio, if were consider today’s one too. Please give your estimates to this.
Hovhannes Hovhannisyan – Opposition forces are periodically formed, as well as opposition political associations and movements. It is because not all problems, both internal and external, are in a normal condition in our country, in other words, the society is in a critical condition, the economy is in a critical situation, and the foreign political wanderings would not bring Armenia to any normal destination. There are many unresolved issues. There is a powerful and large-scale corruption, and most importantly, a great injustice. There’s an operating political monopoly standing at the head of the government for a very long time, a party which, if I’m not mistaken, is a ruling party for over 15 years. All of this gives rise to new movements and new unions, and if you take the formation of the parliamentary trio, it was to be very natural. The opposition political parties in the National Assembly should have consolidated. In the parliamentary trio and, in particular, the PAP leader, made the right decision that the parliamentary trio by its political weight would be much more powerful if the extra-parliamentary political parties join the movement.
We see that the movement is slowly gaining momentum, various non-parliamentary parties, non-governmental organizations and individuals express their willingness to join this movement. I must be repeated again that the main reason is that our society no longer wants to live in such a situation and in such a way.
A. – Mr. Aleksanyan, your comment.
Lernik Aleksanyan – This year, truly, the parliamentary trio was formed as an opposition. Even if we say that PAP as an opposition is not acting officially, it has not made an announcement. Anyway, the parliamentary trio is formed, as already mentioned, during these years, the opposition underwent changes by various formats and various diameters. When we look from 1990 up to now, there have always been different manifestations. The opposition obtained the basic resources and strength when PAP acted are a core, I agree, and today, they are talking about popular movement. Anyway, its waves are still not significant, and I think that during the winter season it would not have a particularly serious expression.
A. – Mr. Hovhannisyan said that you have stayed on power a little longer, 15 years, and even for people who do not care be it RPA or PAP, it is desirable to see new faces. Don’t you see such a desire in the society?
A. – First, the Republican Party has been long on power, you confuse a little, and you generalize a lot with your assessments. During the first president, the Republican Party was not an opposition, nor a government, during the second president, I would not say that the Republican Party had a full power. Republicans existence in general political arena has always been pro-state and pro-center. In other words, in the building of our state, in our country’s strengthening process, this policy is selected. The Republican Party has always been the role of a buffer between the current government and other political field, and has promoted not to have much sharper civil manifestations in the state. I think that the Republican Party had a full power since 2008.
The discussion in full below:
Prepared by ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
“Face to Face” talk show series are released by the Open Society Foundations- Armenia. The views and analyzes found in this broadcast express the opinions of the participants, and are not approved by the Open Society Foundations-Armenia, or its Board. This broadcast is made available thanks to comprehensive financial support by the Open Society Foundations-Armenia, under the mass media support program, grant No 18624.
